Combined electroresponsive valve and pressure regulator



May 31,, 1960 e. 1. HOLMES 2,938,539

COMBINED ELECTRORESPONSIVE VALVE AND PRESSURE REGULATOR Original FiledApril 5, 1951 INVENTOR.

G z'ffo rdlffolme BY Q United States Patent COMBINED ELECTRORESPONSIVEVALVE AND PRESSURE REGULATOR Gifford 1. Holmes, Neponset, IlL, assignorto Base Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Originalapplication Apr. 5, 1951, Ser. No. 219,457, now Patent No. 2,821,206,dated Jan. 28, 1958. Divided and this application May 22, 1957, Ser. No.660,821

1 Claim. (Cl. 137-50542) This application is a division of applicationSerial No. 219,457, filed April 5, 1951, now Patent No. 2,821,- 206.

This invention relates, in general, to a control device for gas burners,and has particular relation to an improved combined electroresponsivevalve and pressure regulator for the gaseous fuel.

While the invention has particular utility in automatical- 1ycontrolling the main burner of a furnace, water heater, or other deviceof this type, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto this particular use but may be employed for all similar or equivalentpurposes as suitable or desired.

One of the main object of the present invention is to provide animproved combined electroresponsive valve and pressure regulator inwhich the valve means for electroresponsively controlling the supply offuel and for regulating the pressure seats with the direction of fuelflow through the device so as not to be unseated by the gas pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which does notrequire a separate pressure chamber for the diaphragm, or equivalentpressure responsive device of the pressure regulator, or a tube orequivalent means, for admitting regulating pressure fluid to such aseparate chamber from the discharge side of the electroresponsive valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which thediaphragm or equivalent pressure responsive device forms at least a partof one of the Walls of the discharge chamber of the electroresponsivevalve so as to be directly responsive to the gas pressure in suchdischarge chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which there iscombined with a diaphragm or equivalent pressure responsive deviceforming at least a part of one of the walls of the discharge chamber ofthe electroresponsive valve a pressure regulator stem which coacts withthe pressure responsive diaphragm and with the valve means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which there isa single valve member under the control of the electroresponsive meansand operated by the diaphragm or equivalent pressure responsive devicewhich forms at least a part of one of the walls of the discharge chamberof the electroresponsive valve.

Further features and advantages and numerous adaptations of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description andthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section through a combinedelectroresponsive valve and pressure regulator embodying the presentinvention; and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the valve shown in Figure 1.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises avalve body 1 having a gaseous fuel inlet 2 and a gaseous fuel outlet 3.The direction of 2,938,539 Patented May 31, 1960 2 gas flow through thedevice is indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

The inlet 2 opens into an inlet chamber 4, and the outlet 3 opens from achamber 5 which constitutes a combined discharge or outlet chamber andpressure chamber. The chambers 4 and 5 are separated by a wall orpartition 6 provided with an opening in which is mounted a tubularmember 7. The cup-shaped formation 11 of partition 6 provides within theinlet chamber 4 an upstanding annular valve seat 12 with which theelectroresponsive valve cooperates for regulating flow of gas andagainst which it is adapted to seat to shut off the flow of gas throughthe device. The electroresponsive valve comprises a yielding valve discor pad 13 carried by a valve cup 14. A clamp ring is shown at 15, and adiaphragm may be provided as shown at 16.

The electroresponsive valve, or condition responsive means, is shown inthe form of a solenoid valve. Its stem 17, which is preferablynon-magnetic and extends at its lower end telescopically into the hub ofthe valve cup 14 is secured therein, for example, by a pin 18. The stem17 is slidable in a bore 19 which extends longitudinally through thesolenoid plunger or armature 20. The plunger or movable element 20 iscounterbored at 21, and the stem 17 has a head 22 outwardly beyond theshoulder 23 with the parts positioned as shown.

The armature or plunger 20 is slidable to active or inactive positions,independently of valve member 13, in a guide tube 25 which is preferablyformed of non-magnetic material. The pin 17, as shown, may be elongatedto achieve the aforementioned independent movement of plunger 20relative to valve member 13. The tube 25 is closed at its outer end by aplug 26 which is also preferably formed of non-magnetic material. Themagnet coil 24 surrounds the upper or outer portion of the tube 25, andupon energization draws the plunger 20 outwardly toward the plug 26 toits inactive position, the plunger, in the embodiment shown, beingnormally biased to its active position by gravity or, if desired, it maybe suitably spring loaded for that purpose. A magnetic flux washer 27 isprovided above the upper end of the coil 24 preferably with a gasket 28interposed therebetween. The upper end of the bore 19 in the plunger 20is closed by a plug 29, and a shading ring is provided at 30.

The lower end of the tube 25 is fixed in a tube support 31 which isthreaded into the valve body 1 at 32.

A gasket (not shown) may be interposed between the valve body 1 and thetube support 31. The coil 24, flux washer 27 and related parts areenclosed Within a solenoid hood 35 which is clamped in place by a capnut 36 screwed on a threaded stud 37 carried by the plug 26.

Electric power for energizing the coil 24 is supplied by insulatedconductors shown at 38 in Figure 2. These conductors 38 may be connectedto any suitable source of electric current, for example, through a stepdown transformer to the line wires adjacent to where the device isinstalled or thermoelectric generator. The line conductors may lead, forexample, from a suitable source of alternating current, such as ahousehold or commercial current supply line of the type which averagesabout volts.

The valve cup 14, which carries the valve disc 13, is disposed coaxiallywith respect to the valve seat 12 and is screwed upon the upper end of avalve stem 40. The valve stem 40 has axial reciprocatory movement in astem guide 41 carried in an opening in the lower end wall of the member7. At its lower end the stem 40 is rounded for cooperation with theheaded upper end of a screw 42.

The diaphragm 10, at its axis, is clamped between a washer 43 and thehead of the screw 42. The threaded shank of the screw 42 passes throughan axial opening in the diaphragm and is screwed into a nut 44. Theouter periphery'ofthe diaphragm 10 is clamped between a flange on theopen lower end of the discharge chamber portion of the valve body 1, andthe cooperating flange of a cover'45. The cover 45 has an integral andaxially disposed tubular portion 46 into which is screwed an adjustingnut 47. Yieldable means in the form of a coiled spring 48 is interposedbetween the washer 43 and the adjusting means in the form of anapertured nut 47. The spring 48 is biased upwardly and is adapted asdescribed belowto unseat or open the valve 13 in the inactive positionof armature 20, and the pressure adjusting action of theldiaphragm andits valve are adjusted by adjusting the screw 47 in the tubular part 46.A cover nut 50 is screwed in the lower end of the tubular part 46' andcloses the'same.

The operation of the device is as follows When the electric circuitthrough the coil 24 is closed, the plunger '20 is drawn upwardly fromits active position to its inactive position and its biasing forcenormally closing valve 13 is removed, which permits valve 13 to moveto'open position under the influence of spring 48 as long as the coil 24is energized. The spring 48, with coil 24 energized, yieldingly holdsthe valve 13 open, and therefore gaseous fuel enters through the inlet 2and flows through the inlet chamber 4, tubular member 7,

, It will be noted that in the embodiment of. the invention disclosedthe pressure responsive means is free of the weight of theelectroresponsive means in operating the shut-off valve to open positionand holding same open; also that the pressure responsive means and theelectroresponsive means are located beyond opposite ends of the portmeans, and that the actuating stem 40 is disposed for operation withinthe port means and cooperates with the valve means at one end and withthe pressure responsive means at the opposite end.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is forillustrative purposes only, audit is to be expressly understood thatsaid drawings and'the accom panying specification are not to beconstrued as a defini. tion of the limits ,or scope of v the invention,reference being had to the appended claim for that purpose. .I claim Inan apparatus for controlling theflow of fluid "fuel, aunitary valve bodyhaving a fluid inlet-opening into an inlet chamber, a fluid outletopening from an outlet chamber, a partition separating said inlet andoutlet chambers and having a cup-shaped portion and a port for flow offluid from said inlet to said outlet, a valve seat defined by the openend of said cup-shaped portion 7 valve seat in the direction of fluidflow from said inlet outlet chamber 5, and out through the outlet 3 inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, for example, to a maingaseous fuel burner.

*Thegaseous fuel in 'its flow through the outlet chamber 5 acts in saidchamber directly upon the diaphragm 10. Anrincrease in pressure willflex the diaphragm downwardly against the force of the spring 48 withaccompanying movement of the valve 13 toward its seat 12. Movement ofthe valve 13 is thus effected with respect to the valve seat 12 by thepressure of the gaseous fuelwithin the outlet chamber 5 on the diaphragm10 and in amount which varies with the pressure. The closer the valve 13approaches its seat 12 the greater is the pressure drop through thetubular member 7. A

simple and convenient gas pressure regulator is thus provided.

Upon deenergization of the coil 24, for example, by opening of athermostat, limit switch or other condition responsive device in thecircuit for this coil, the plunger 20 is released and drops by gravityto its active position, closing the valve 13 with impact or witha'hammer-like blow, and holding the valve 13 closed against the biasingforce, of spring 48 as long as the coil 24 is deenergized.

It will be noted that the valve stem 40, which has reciprocatorymovement in the guide 41 is screwed or attached at its upper end to thevalve cup 14. Also, the regulatingaction of the diaphragm 10 on theshut-01f valve 13 is adjusted by adjusting the screw shown at 47 inFigure 1.

to said outlet to shut off said fluid flow, said shut-ofi valve beingpositioned above said valve seat to seat thereon by gravity, a pressureresponsive stem guided-solely by said guide member and connected to saidshut-off valve, and pressure responsive means comprising a single springloaded flexible diaphragm directly defining one wall of said outletchamber, a washer positioned beneath said diaphragm, a headed screwaxially passing through said diaphragm and securing said washer thereto,said diaphragm being disconnected from said pressure responsive stem butcoacting therewith through said headed screw to actuate said shut-offvalve by flexing of said diaphgram responsive to variations in pressureof the fluid;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS856,989 Schultz June 11, 1907 1,743,127 Fuller Jan. 14, 1930 2,050,430Erickson Aug. 11, 1936 2,212,762 Wittmann Aug. 27, 1940 2,226,761 FoxDec. 31, 1940 2,245,834 Sparrow June 17, 1941 2,509,505 Johnson May 30,1950 2,666,278. Matasovic Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,867 ItalySept. 24, 1929

